"Lenora Oftedahl" <OFTL@critfc.org> wrote:
So, how do we start a Koha Foundation? Is it simply filling out paperwork and registering as a non-profit? I'll be happy to start looking into this and talking with a lawyer I know who might be willing to give free advice.
Anyone can fill out paperwork and register as a non-profit, but we need to agree how it will work. There are at least four proposals made in the last three years that I remember, which maybe illustrate the range of views:- 1. I suggested applying to become an associated project of SPI-Inc.org so that we have a vendor-neutral foundation to hold assets until we have another foundation - appoint Kaitiaki as liaison - I think some suggested that being part of a technical/philanthropic foundation, even temporarily, would be harmful for our reputation among librarians; 2. someone else (Andres?) suggesting applying to become an Apache.org project - I'm not keen because this would change the way the project works in several ways to fit the Apache model, but maybe that's better than our current practices; 3. I suggested forming a not-for-profit cooperative using model rules - my favourite, but some people flat-out objected; 4. Joshua has directed LibLime to draft paperwork and register as a non-profit, but I don't think we've seen the draft yet - I feel this underestimates the amount of work in operating a non-profit, but I'm willing to help with it and hope we can involve the wider community. Hope that explains, -- MJ Ray (slef). LMS developer and supporter for a small, friendly worker cooperative http://www.ttllp.co.uk/ http://mjr.towers.org.uk/ (Notice http://mjr.towers.org.uk/email.html) tel:+44-844-4437-237